[Official] HP 290-p0043w Owner's Thread

Looking at buying one… Would this work as a Windows server with a couple transcodes as well as some other apps in the background like sonarr,nzbget,etc? Was looking at buying and getting an additional memory stick.
I figured I should mention I already have a Linux server built on one of those cheap atom Windows computers I got from Amazon that is going to handle remote streaming. This one is going to be for more local Plex and emby streaming.

Finally got my three node proxmox/ceph cluster up and running. Upgraded each node with a 500GB WD black nvme drive (ceph OSD), 250GB SATA boot SSD, additional 16GB dimm (total 20GB each), and a connectx-3 dual sfp+ NIC for a 10Gb mesh storage network backend.

Picked up a cheap MPU2016 IPKVM and a switched PDU for a poor man’s IPMI.

Will run some benchmarks, but I am thinking these celeron CPUs might be a bit under-powered for the task at hand. I think an i3-8100 or i3-9100 would be better suited. Perhaps a future upgrade.

In all, each node I spent under $300 on (tax+ship included in prices):

  • HP 290-p0043w - $115
  • 16GB dimm CT16G4DFD824A - $64.37
  • WD SN550 500G nvme w/ heatsink - $73.36
  • Connectx-3 CX312A + low profile bracket - $26.29
  • SFP+ DAC cable - $11.81
  • 250G SATA SSD - $0 (had laying around)

Total (per node): $290.83

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8GB of Ram is the right amount if you’re doing that much streaming. As for doing transcodes in RAM, just do it on your boot SSD. You don’t need a ton of space (about the size of each file of each stream, maximum). You can use ram, but I’d probably not throw 16GB into a 290 as you may end up with other issues if you use RAM disk to transcode.

I ordered two, both will be Win10 machines for family. Was thinking that 8gb is better for Win10 so was wondering if this would work (one 4gb stick for each machine making each 8gb dual channel).
https://www.amazon.com/Patriot-Signature-288-Pin-PC4-19200-2400MHz-PSD48G2400K/dp/B016A29ETY/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Patriot+Memory+Signature+Line+DDR4+8GB+(2x4GB)+UDIMM+(PC4-19200)+1.2+Volt&qid=1580794888&s=electronics&sr=1-1

Also what about this for one machine (other machine getting regular ssd i have laying around):
https://www.newegg.com/western-digital-blue-sn550-nvme-500gb/p/N82E16820250134?Item=N82E16820250134&sdtid=13838474&nm_mc=AFC-RAN-COM&cm_mmc=AFC-RAN-COM&utm_medium=affiliates&utm_source=afc-Slickdeals%20LLC&AFFID=208164&AFFNAME=Slickdeals%20LLC&ACRID=1&ASUBID=5a5bf69c471011ea9fa4ae84f36f74ac0INT&ASID=https%3A%2F%2Fslickdeals.net%2Ff%2F13838474-500gb-wd-blue-sn550-nvme-m-2-2280-ssd-newegg-59-99%3Fv%3D1%26src%3DSiteSearch&ranMID=44583&ranEAID=208164&ranSiteID=lw9MynSeamY-acMndrZbfHWGoKBi2LkFZw

Got proxmox up and running. Do these things support 10bit 4k encoding? I thought they did. have hardware encoding in my 1080p hevc sample, but not 4k in plex.

4k transcoding working! Just the file I had was too high bitrate.

but why

Does this PC have enough clearance and power from the PSU to handle an NVIDIA Quadro P2000 GPU?

Why not? Just wanted to see if possible. Still have separate libraries, but long term wouldn’t mind dropping lower res.

Why would you want that? Quicksync on the CPU can do as much. Additionally. You can unlock much lower end quadro

Because Plex transcodes 10 bit to 8 bit and does not tone map well at all.

Right. I just said I had separate libraries. Just wanted to test it out. My dual x5670s are just brute forcing and couldnt handle 4k transcoding.

I already bought the GPU to bump performance in my existing Plex server. If I returned the GPU, then I’d be dinged on a restocking fee and I got it for a good price brand-new anyhow. However, now I’m contemplating putting my old GPU back into my old Plex server and putting the P2000 in the HP 290.

The entire point of the 290 is the onboard encode/decode that performs admirably in an entire box that costs only $100, putting a P2000 in it makes the 290 purchase useless and the 290 makes the P2000 purchase useless. You should pick one and return (or sell) the other, and the 290 is the right one to keep IMO.

The 290 is a small form factor system, with only a half-height slot, so the P2000 won’t physically fit in the chassis.

There is a market for the P2000, you can most likely easily sell it. Or you can give the 290 a whirl and if it doesn’t meet your needs you can put the P2000 in the old server.

I have another rackmount server that I just setup plex on since it has the g3930 in it. If it works out well I will probably remove my P400 from my main plex box, or repurpose it to another vm. So as you can see im in the same boat.

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Agreed, sell the P2000. If you got it for a good price, you can turn a profit and fund at least 3 HP 290s.

I’ll probably keep it as I’m going to keep my custom built PC running as a backup Plex. Also, the GPU in that box was so unreliable (RX 580) with driver updates.

At any rate, is there any reason to not use this Optane + SSD with the HP 290? I didn’t see anything obvious, but that stick is unfamiliar territory to me.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/INTEL-OPTANE-H10-16G-256-GB-NAND-PCIe-NVMe-M2/254506079355?hash=item3b41be947b%3Ag%3ABBYAAOSwoCFePY6g&LH_BIN=1

Has anyone found a use for the 2230 M.2 slot if you remove the WiFi card?

I am not finding much in the 30mm size. Or is that footprint limited to WiFi, Bluetooth, etc?

Not sure what will fit/is supported, but good reminder to unplug mine for power draw.